EUGENE, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's 4 x 400-meter relay team improved its provisional qualifying time for the NCAA Division III National Championships by nearly a second on Friday, May 9, as the Bearcats competed in the Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field. Willamette finished the race in 3:53.39 to register the ninth fastest time in Division III this season.

The Bearcats defeated Northwest Conference rival George Fox University by less than one-tenth of a second. The Bruins took second place at 3:53.48.

Willamette previously ranked 11th nationally in the 4 x 400 relay, after clocking in at 3:54.37 during the Oregon Relays on April 26. By moving into the top 10, the Bearcats improved their chances of being in the national championship field later this month.

Athletes have roughly one more week to improve their times. Last year, 16 teams including Willamette competed at the National Championships in the 4 x 400 relay. WU took fifth in the nation with a school record time of 3:47.42 in the finals.